Causes of pain in the corners of the lips and methods of relief

What is cheilitis

Cheilitis is a disease characterized by the spread of a pathological process on the surface of the lips. Pathology is common, since lips are more susceptible to external factors than other organs. The development of inflammation is promoted by low-quality cosmetics and unfavorable weather, as a result of which they peel and crack.

Inflammation of the lips can be either a sign of the development of a serious disease or an independent pathology. But treatment must be carried out in a timely manner, since there is a high risk of transforming the cells of the upper layer of the epidermis into malignant ones.

Men and women are equally susceptible to cheilitis, regardless of age.

Classification

Inflammation of the lips has several types. Each of them has its own signs and reasons for development.

Exfoliative

There can be two types: exudative and dry. The first is characterized by the formation of a brown or yellow crust.

After their removal, exudate is released. When dry, brownish scales appear, resembling mica in appearance. They are adjacent to the surface of the lips with the central part.

Glandular

It is most often diagnosed in patients over 30 years of age. This form manifests itself in the form of salivary gland ducts, protruding as small red dots from which saliva is secreted. The cause is hyperplasia or hyperfunction of the glands.

Allergic

Also called contact. Occurs against the background of an allergic reaction to cosmetics. Characterized by peeling, swelling and the presence of rashes.

Meteorological

The meteorological type of lip inflammation develops as a result of the influence of external factors. Often this is wind, severe frost, dust. The lower lip is more susceptible to the inflammatory process.

When their effects are eliminated, the pathology is capable of self-healing. In case of severe cases, a complex of vitamins and the use of hygienic lipsticks are prescribed. Against the background of the meteorological type, precancerous obligate forms of hyperkeratosis may appear.

Actinic

Associated with solar radiation. It manifests itself in the form of dryness, and may have an exudative form. Prevention methods include short exposure to the sun and the use of chapstick. They moisturize the skin of the lips and prevent moisture from evaporating.

Abrasive precancrosis cheilitis Manganotti

It is more often diagnosed in males. The causes are infections, injuries or a meteorological type of inflammation of the lips. It is characterized by the presence of one or two areas where the pathological process spreads. The surface of the lips is smooth and has a bright pink color.

Each type of cheilitis manifests itself depending on the causes of its occurrence. When prescribing treatment, the doctor determines the shape and extent of the lesion, since the method and duration of treatment depend on them.

Dry lips under film, burning sensation

The face and lips area contains many nerve endings and pain receptors. Exposure to them leads to irritation and transmission of impulses to the brain. The sensitivity of the lips increases, turning into discomfort and pain. Their surface is thin, not protected from the inside by fatty tissue, which makes this area of ​​the body vulnerable not only to external but also internal irritants. The following can cause lips to dry out, become inflamed, and lead to discomfort:

• Allergy. The body's intolerance to foods, drugs, and cosmetics causes a rejection reaction. This affects the composition of the blood, and antibodies appear in it. This is how protective forces are revealed. And the lips are well supplied with blood. Due to the presence of atypical components in it, they can “burn” and become swollen and red.

Quincke's edema with manifestation on the upper lip

• Oral infections. A huge variety of bacteria live on the mucous membrane of this area and teeth. It is enough to catch a slight cold without healing the caries, and an erosive area and a burning sensation will appear.

• Vitamin deficiency. A lack of folic and ascorbic acids and other necessary substances in the body leads to a disruption in the supply of oxygen to tissues and a deterioration in their condition. This is manifested by dry lips and soreness. Their surface becomes thinner and more uneven.

• Dry mouth. This phenomenon becomes one of the signs of problems with the throat, salivary glands or their ducts. The same thing is observed in diabetes mellitus, when you are constantly thirsty. Some medications have a similar effect. You have to constantly lick your lips, which causes their membranes to dry out, crack and sting.

• Overexcitation of the central nervous system. Excess emotions accelerate metabolic reactions, which can lead to a rush of blood to the face and irritation of the nerves in the lip area. The surface begins to burn, as if they are overflowing from the inside.

• Chemical exposure. We are talking about low-quality lip cosmetics. It’s not just women who are at risk, as men also sometimes apply chapstick to them. And it may contain substances that burn the delicate skin of the lips.

If there is a stinging sensation along the edges of the lips, then the reasons for this may be the following:

• inadequate reaction of the body to cold;
• overly sensitive skin and reaction even to quite ordinary things such as lipstick, sour apple;
• herpes zoster in history or at its primary manifestation;
• inflammation or injury of the facial nerve;
• microstroke.

But most often the reason lies in completely harmless things:

• excessive consumption of citrus fruits - the acid contained in them irritates the thin skin of the lips;
• passion for dry, salted fish - it literally corrodes the lips, which provokes a burning sensation;
• improper handling of pineapple - if it is not completely peeled, it may injure the skin and get acid from the fruit into micro-scratches/punctures.

If the cause is not pathological, then the unpleasant sensations disappear literally after a few hours or a day, at least their intensity becomes much less.

The simultaneous presence of peeling and burning lips may indicate:

• insufficient fluid intake into the body - you just need to drink more clean water, and if after a day the discomfort becomes less pronounced, then continue to follow an increased drinking regime to restore balance;
• being in a room with excessively dry air - the problem is solved by using a humidifier, drinking large amounts of water and using hygienic lipsticks with a moisturizing, softening effect;
• the presence of constant stress in a person’s life - the “culprit” can be any irritant: from food to the aroma of perfume in the air.

If, after restoring the drinking regime, your lips continue to peel, and the burning sensation bothers you periodically or constantly, then you need to seek qualified medical help. Most likely, a full examination will be prescribed to identify:

• gastritis with low or high acidity of gastric juice;
• diseases of the pancreas - pancreatitis (inflammation), disruption of the process of insulin production and others;
• dysbacteriosis - can be an independent disease or a consequence of long-term use of antibacterial drugs, adherence to a strict diet with an irrational menu;
• gastric/duodenal ulcer.

You should definitely consult a dentist, because peeling and burning lips can be caused by pathologies of the oral cavity - stomatitis, gingivitis, even if they occur with minimal or complete absence of symptoms.

A burning sensation in the lip area can occur simultaneously with excessive salivation, the latter is a provoking factor, and the cause of this combination of unpleasant sensations can be:

• poisoning with chemicals (for example, when working in a specific industry);
• pathologies of the oral cavity (stomatitis, gingivitis);
• inflammation of the salivary glands;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

The problem may be more prosaic - eating large quantities of too salty food, when at the same time there is burning of the lips, profuse salivation and a feeling of dry mouth.

If unpleasant signs do not disappear within 2-3 days, then you need to consult a doctor for examination.

Redness of the lips and burning sensation are the first signs of systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune connective tissue disease. The color changes only along the edges of the lips, their contour becomes pronounced, as if outlined. A burning sensation is noted precisely in this area, it is aggravated due to constant licking of the lips - the patient feels dry skin.

Unpleasant symptoms disappear over time, but this does not mean recovery - the disease simply becomes chronic. Periodically, the sensations return, which means an exacerbation of the pathology.

Burning and peeling on the lips, which is accompanied by the appearance of a rash, are signs of an infectious disease. Most often, this is how herpes begins to develop at the moment of exacerbation, and pimples in this case will be presented in the form of small bubbles with liquid contents, which burst on their own, after which they become covered with a crust.

Another reason for the presence of “complex” discomfort may be an allergy to external irritants - for example, too dry air and high air temperatures, eating citrus fruits in large quantities or pineapples with poorly peeled peel, low-quality decorative cosmetics.

If the rash is small and without purulent contents, then to solve the problem you just need to constantly moisturize your lips, take antihistamines (Zodak, Tavegil, etc.) for 3 days and follow a drinking regime. If large (or small but numerous) abscesses form, you need to seek help from a dermatologist - you cannot do without the use of antibacterial and antiviral drugs.

Burning and dry lips covered with a film are signs of cheilitis. This disease can be caused by various irritants; the treatment regimen is selected individually after identifying the true cause of the pathology.

A similar combination of symptoms may be present in some diseases of the oral cavity, for example, thrush, stomatitis. The film in such cases has a white-yellow tint, is removed with a finger, and a bleeding surface may open under it.

First of all, you need to understand what causes the unpleasant symptom. In most cases, if the lips are chapped and sore, the doctor checks the patient for the presence of internal and sources of the pathological condition (low immunity, infectious lesions, allergic reactions). It would be a good idea to make sure that the itching and burning are not caused by a deficiency of vitamins or failure to maintain the water-salt balance (dehydration).

Of course, it’s worth making sure that there was no negative influence of external factors:

• temperature changes;
• exposure to wind, frost, ultraviolet radiation;
• use of incorrect hygiene products and cosmetics.

Often the cause of chapped lips is the habit of licking them. It is not difficult to determine the pathology. The first symptoms are dry skin and tightness. Then there is burning, itching, bleeding and peeling.

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Doctors and dermatologists indicate several common causes of dry lips:

• temperature changes;
• lack of vitamins;
• certain diseases;
• Unhealthy Lifestyle;
• professional problems;
• reaction to medications;
• bad habits.

Sometimes dry lips are caused by two or even three reasons at once, which are not so easy to deal with. It is worth talking about each reason for the manifestation of this trouble separately.

Temperature changes

For many, discomfort on the lips appears precisely during temperature changes, when delicate skin is exposed to polar temperatures. This happens especially often in winter and autumn, when you need to leave the house and go outside, where there are sub-zero temperatures and strong winds that dry out your lips.

In summer, you should also be on guard - many already know how the insidious sun negatively affects hair: it dries it out, makes it more brittle and dull. Ultraviolet rays do not have the best effect on the skin. But, if the long-term effect of prolonged exposure to the sun manifests itself only years later (wrinkles, age spots), then the lips may dry out immediately.

Lack of vitamins

This is a big problem in the winter-spring period, when many people eat less varied than in the summer. The main fighters for the beauty and smoothness of the skin of the lips are vitamins A, E, D and B (especially B2). Often, in addition to dry lips, there is a burning sensation in the mucous membranes of the mouth and tongue, and signs of fine-scaly peeling and thin vertical cracks are noticeable on the reddish border of the lips. The lack of vitamins is often painful - cracks that tend to bleed and an enlarged tongue are a concern.

Diseases

Dry and cracking lips can be caused by an illness. One of the most common manifestations of serious health problems is cheilitis, an inflammatory process that affects the mucous membrane and skin of the lips.

Causes

There are many reasons for the development of pathology. The main ones are:

1. Environmental impact . These can be sudden changes in temperature, which result in chapping and drying out of the skin.
2. Allergic reactions.
3. Unfavorable ecological atmosphere.
4. Clogged pores with lanolin, which is included in most lipsticks.
5. Thyroid diseases .
6. Psoriasis or lichen. It can also spread to the face, affecting the mucous membranes of the lips.
7. Exposure to chemicals and toxic substances.
8. Pathologies of the liver or gastrointestinal tract.
9. Vitamin deficiency is also a common cause of cheilitis.

In children, cheilitis can develop due to a violation of the physiological state due to improper breathing. Inflammation of the lips is a group of diseases that differ not only in their causes of origin, but also in their clinical manifestations.

Allergic reaction

Most often, irritation in the corners of the lips or on their surface is an additional symptom of an allergic reaction. It can occur on toothpaste, personal care products or cosmetics, and household chemicals. A so-called cold allergy may also develop. More often it occurs in children. In this case, small cracks or wounds appear in the corners of the mouth. As they heal, they become covered with crusts, this process is accompanied by intense itching and pain.

Food allergies are also accompanied by the appearance of irritation and redness not only around the mouth, but also in the oral cavity. How to treat such a disease, it is better to consult a doctor, since only he can select the optimal dosage of antihistamines in each specific case. During treatment, follow a diet - exclude potential allergens from the diet. From now on, use only proven hygiene products and decorative cosmetics with a hypoallergenic base. You should not take any medications on your own without a doctor’s prescription.

Symptoms

Clinical signs of pathology appear depending on the type of inflammation. Exfoliative is characterized by peeling, which is present on the red border, the upper layer of the epidermis around the lips and mucous membrane. Dryness, burning, and scales may also appear.

Signs of granular include the appearance of small red dots on the red border and mucous membrane, from which saliva is released. They are the mouths of the salivary glands.

After prolonged moisturizing, the skin of the lips begins to peel and crack. Complaints also include itching. Over time, the skin becomes rough and keratinized. Leukoplakia lesions may form.

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The allergic form is manifested by itching, severe burning, redness and swelling of the lower and upper lips. After exposure to the allergen, the symptoms become more pronounced.

In the absence of treatment, blisters begin to form, a crust forms on the lips, after which, after removal, erosion and cracks are visible. In the case of a chronic course, the disease is characterized by slight flaking and itching. In this case, no inflammatory process is observed.

Meteorological symptoms are characterized by itching and burning. Erosion and crusts may appear at the site of bubble formation. Symptoms most often occur after prolonged exposure to the sun.

With abrasive precancrous cheilitis of Manganotti, swelling of the lips is noted. Swelling may spread to other parts of the face. In places of injury, the upper layer of the epidermis of the lips has a bluish tint. Neuritis appears in the form of a skew towards the healthy side, and the nasolabial fold is smoothed out.

Actinic is characterized by burning and severe itching. In cases of lack of therapy, blisters form, which are often injured. In their place a brownish crust appears.

All clinical manifestations can be pronounced, especially after contact with an allergen or long exposure to frost, wind or sun. The chronic form occurs without pronounced symptoms and is more often characterized by peeling and dryness.

What to do if cheilitis occurs

In order to reduce the risk of developing a pathological process, when the first signs of a meteorological type of disease appear, it is necessary:

1. Stay outside as little as possible .
2. Use chapstick before going out.
3. Take vitamins B and PP.
4. Rinse daily with oak bark tincture.
5. Use wound healing agents.

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When establishing the actinic type of pathology, experts recommend:

1. Use hygienic lipstick .
2. Take vitamin complexes.
3. Rinse your mouth with infusions based on various herbs that relieve inflammation (oak bark, chamomile, sage).
4. Use hormonal ointments.
5. Use special sunscreen cosmetics.

In cases of diagnosing an allergic type of disease, it is necessary:

1. Rinse your mouth after every meal.
2. Avoid contact with the allergen.
3. Take vitamins and antihistamines.
4. Use anti-inflammatory creams.

With the development of exfoliative type of pathology, it is recommended:

1. Use anti-inflammatory ointments and creams.
2. Use antibacterial drugs.
3. Take vitamins.

To relieve the first signs of abrasive precancrosis Manganotti cheilitis, it is necessary to undergo an analysis to determine the type of bacterium that caused the development of the disease.

In case of a positive result, it is recommended to take antibacterial drugs, which are selected taking into account the type of infection. You also need to treat the affected areas with an oil solution daily. It will relieve dryness and moisturize your lips for a long time.

How to eliminate irritation?

In order to get rid of irritation of the skin around the mouth, it is necessary to use special cleansing cosmetics daily to remove dead skin particles. The creams, scrubs and peels used must be soft so as not to further damage the delicate skin.

After removing keratinized particles, it is necessary to apply a rich nourishing cream or cosmetic oil to the area around the mouth. A cream that contains vitamin E, which promotes regeneration, is a good choice. You can use baby cream. Among cosmetic oils, you should give preference to olive or peach - they also contain vitamin E. You should not moisturize a flaky area of ​​skin immediately before going outside - this procedure is best done before bed.

You can cure problem skin with improvised remedies at home. To do this, you need to apply nourishing masks to the damaged areas and make compresses from medicinal herbs. Some of the most effective home remedies for flaking include:

• Chamomile decoction. Compresses with chamomile infusion should be applied to irritated areas several times a day. This will relieve irritation and have a calming effect. Chamomile decoction can be replaced with oak decoction or calendula decoction.
• Vegetable oils. Olive and sea buckthorn oils are best. You need to warm it up a little and wipe the problem areas 2-3 times a day. It is advisable that the oil nourishes the skin for at least 15-20 minutes, then it can be washed off with warm water.
• Propolis ointment. To prepare such an ointment, you need to mix 100 grams of butter and 10 grams of propolis, and then heat for 15 minutes in a water bath. The resulting ointment should be applied to problem areas around the lips several times a day. Propolis ointment should be stored in a cool, dark place.
• Oatmeal mask. To obtain such a nutritious mask, regular oatmeal is cooked in milk, but without adding salt and sugar. Honey and butter are added to the finished porridge. The resulting mask is applied to problem areas for 15 minutes and then washed off with warm water.

Diagnosis of cheilitis

Diagnosis of the disease is carried out by a dentist based on the patient’s complaints and clinical manifestations. During the examination, the doctor determines the degree of soft tissue damage and the area of ​​distribution of the pathological process. In addition, the specialist examines the patient’s medical history to determine the causes of the pathology.

In some cases, an analysis may be prescribed to determine the type of infection and histological examination of tissues if malignant cell transformation is suspected. Based on the results obtained, a diagnosis is determined and treatment is prescribed. In addition, consultation with a neuropsychiatrist or endocrinologist is necessary.

Treatment of lip inflammation

Local treatment involves the use of laser therapy and ultrasound. Therapy should be comprehensive and, together with physiotherapeutic procedures, hormonal drugs, vitamin complexes and antibacterial drugs are prescribed.

The duration of treatment largely depends on the extent of the lesion, severity and type of disease. Often complex therapy is carried out over several months.

For glandular cheilitis, ointments and creams that have an anti-inflammatory effect are prescribed. The most effective are tetracycline, oxolinic and erythromycin ointments.

How to prevent lip diseases?

If your lips dry out, the cause of the disease may be due to the fact that the body lacks important nutrients or vitamins. Very often, such difficulties arise in winter, when the human body suffers from a lack of various vitamins. Herpes is considered a very unpleasant disease of the lips, which can cause a lot of trouble for a person. At the same time, it is the fair sex who suffer most from herpes.

It is impossible to completely cure this disease, but the use of modern antiviral drugs provides an excellent opportunity to get rid of a possible relapse for a long period of time. This virus can remain dormant for several years and begins to act when the necessary conditions arise. One of these conditions is a noticeable decrease in immunity, as well as various respiratory diseases.

In order to prevent the occurrence of various lip diseases as much as possible, it is recommended to ensure that the human body has the required amount of vitamins. In addition, in winter, as well as in windy weather, it is recommended to protect your lips from unwanted weather influences. These actions will help the immune system function effectively and prevent the occurrence of various diseases that are associated with redness or cracking of the lips.